International education: growing demand for specialised guidance – the Eurouniversity programme

Studying abroad is no longer a niche choice, but has become a realistic option for thousands of Italian students. With the introduction of the screening semester for entry to Medicine — which, from 2024, will replace the traditional national entrance exam — and with around 60,000 applicants each year for just over 17,000 available places, European universities are attracting a growing number of young people seeking an alternative to traditional pathways, particularly in degree programmes for the healthcare professions. As these choices have increased, so too has the need to rely on specialist organisations capable of guiding students and professionals through bureaucratic procedures, regulations and enrolment abroad.

It is within this context that Eurouniversity operates – an Italian organisation which, for over fifteen years, has been enrolling students at foreign universities, specialising in international university guidance. The company was founded by Dr Leo Carlo Tuscano, now Chief Advisor and an Italian doctor, who created an organisation whose approach is based on his personal experience. He obtained his degree in Medicine and Surgery in Romania and subsequently decided to turn a need he had experienced first-hand into a structured business venture.

For Italian students, Eurouniversity serves as a point of reference, helping them to navigate the path to a foreign university with greater awareness. “I have experienced first-hand just how complex it is to find the right place within our university system,” explains Dr Tuscano. “What we offer is the opportunity to start straight away at recognised European universities, with ongoing support right through to the recognition of their degree and

entry into the job market in Italia.” The project has developed over the years to the point where it now guides thousands of students in choosing the path best suited to their aspirations.

Study methods in other countries, particularly in the healthcare sector, attract students with an approach modelled on the American system, which focuses on clinical practice and working on real-life cases from the very first year.

Eurouniversity operates in two sectors: healthcare and teacher qualifications. In fact, an increasing number of aspiring teachers are choosing to obtain their teaching qualification or specialisation in special educational needs abroad, taking advantage of European Union Directive 2005/36/EC, which guarantees the mutual recognition of academic qualifications across all EU countries, thereby ensuring the award of a qualifying degree and registration with the relevant professional body.

Eurouniversity offers 60 CFU qualification programmes, also delivered online at European universities in Spain and Romania, recognised by the Italian Ministry of Education (MIM) and valid for inclusion in the teaching rankings.

Degree programmes in the healthcare sector represent the company’s main area of activity: Medicine and Surgery, Veterinary Medicine, Dentistry, Nursing, Physiotherapy, Medical Radiology Techniques, Dental Hygiene and other healthcare professions are among the most sought-after courses for those choosing to undertake a university programme abroad, often without having to face the selective admission criteria typical of the Italian system – a choice that is, above all, an investment in one’s future.

Today, however, it is not enough simply to find the right university and enrol: one must be familiar with regulations, deadlines, entry requirements, administrative procedures and rules governing the recognition of qualifications. For this reason, the role of specialist consultancy firms has become increasingly indispensable.

Eurouniversity has built its business on this growing demand for specialist services. The support offered is not limited to enrolment procedures, but extends to the most challenging stages: settling into the new academic environment, the recognition of qualifications and any transfer to an Italian university, which can be applied for as early as the end of the first year with the recognition of credits earned.

But Eurouniversity does not stop there: future doctors will be supported at every stage, including medical specialisation, with programmes that provide not only training but also professional and life experience.

To navigate the complex world of foreign qualifications, Eurouniversity has assembled a multidisciplinary team: professionals from the healthcare, education and legal sectors who are constantly up to date with current regulations. With operational offices in Italia and abroad, the organisation supports students and professionals who wish to invest in their international education within an increasingly integrated European context.